Comparing community clients of different dietary pattern on their health indicators at a vegetarian festival in Hong Kong

Abstract

Introduction Vegetarian diets have been found of health benefits and health indicators without early detection of deviation to rule out potential health problems, will lead to actual health problems and non-communicable diseases. This study was to compare participants’ indicators with different dietary pattern attending a vegetarian festival in Hong Kong. Method A cross-sectional design was adopted for this study which took place during the 1st Hong Kong Vegetarian Festival held in October 2013. Survey method and physical measurement was used to collect data. Results The results showed that the Vegetarian group has significantly less number of non-communicable diseases than the Non-vegetarian groups’ (likelihood Ratio χ²=4.294, df=1, P=0.038). A t-test indicated that Body Mass Index (t=-2.706, P=0.007) and Total Cholesterol (t=0.076, P=0.008) of the two groups differed significantly. Discussion The results support that eating vegetarian diets properly with balanced nutrients tend to reduce bio-medical risks from nutritional intervention. Health risks screening of focusing indicators allows user-friendly learning of self-health state to alert individuals for proper dietary pattern to prevent actual health problem accordingly. Conclusion Vegetarian diets may be beneficial as supplementary intervention for seekers of health pursue. Education of nutrition pattern and health indicators assessment plays a pivotal role to promote health in the community as well as the hospital setting.